Hinged cover container



Aug. 15, 1944. D. w. MABEE HINGED COVER CONTAINER 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1942 15 ill/R5: ET-T 16 If, D ikk-C T/ONS IN VEN TOR. flay/'12 I. flake BY WMWM firm/Mfr Allg- 1944- D. w. MABEE 2,355,665

HINGED COVER CONTAINER Filed Aug. 5. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa tentecl Aug. 1-5, 1944 masses muslin .eovmcosimeit David w. Msbee; salts c0515., ss'igiitr to National Folding, Box Company, New Haven, Conn, a corporation of New Jersey Application Aug ilst 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,631

' 12 Claims.

This invention relates to hinged, cover containers, and more particularly to a hingedcover container formed from paperboard or other suitable material'comprising a box part having a cover part hinged thereto and adapted to telescope over the upper end of the box part.

In accordance with this invention, the improved hinged cover container is formed from a single blank of such suitable sheet material of substantially rectangular outline. The blank when assembled into container form presents only one face thereof asthe outside surface of the container and consequently the blank need be finished and imprinted on one side thereof only. The blanks may be cut and scored on an automatic cutting and scorin machine at a' high production rate.

The blank comprises a box forming part and a cover forming part which may be assembled simultaneously. The box forming part comprises front, rear and side wall panels and a securing flap arranged in side by side relationship. The bottom end of the box part may be formed by' bottom forming flaps and tabs extending from the lower ends of the front, rear and side wall panels which may be folded and secured together in end closing position.

The cover forming part comprises a top wall panel hinged to the upper end of the rear wall panel of the box part and a front flange section hinged to the opposite edge of the top wall panel. A side wall section is hingedly connected to one end of the top wall panel and the other side wall section is hingedly connected to an end extension of the securing flap associated with the box part. A securing tab extends from each of the side wall sections and these are arranged to be adhesively secured to the inside face of the front flange section. lAn abutment flap is hinged to the upper end of the front wall panel of the box part and a tear-out section is removably connected to the opposite edge of this abutment flap. An abutment section is severably connected to the opposite edge of the tear-out section and is adapted to be adhesively secured to the inside face of the front flange section of the cover part to provide abutment means associated with the cover part adapted to cooperate with the hinged abutment flap associated with the front wall panelof the box part to normally retain the cover part in closed position when the container is assembled.

The prepared blank may be assembled in collapsed shell form at the box factory on an automatic strip gluing and folding machine. In this operation a strip of adhesive is applied to the outside face of the securing flap and the end extension thereof. The adjacent side wall panel of the box part and the adjacent side wall section of the cover part are then folded over the inside faceof the front wall panel of the box part and the abutment flap associated with the box part respectively. The rear wall panel of the box part is then folded over the adjacent side wall panel and its free edge is pressed into adhesive engagement with the glued face of the securing flap, and in the same operation the top wall panel of the coverpart is folded over the adjacent side wall section and pressed into adhesive engagement? with the glued face of the securing flap extension. The collapsed shell as thus assembled is substantially rectangular in outline and these shells may be stacked together for shipment and storage in a minimum cubical space.

The merchandise'manufacturer may complete the assembly of the container by expanding the shell into hollow tub ar form and running the expanded shell through a double end-sealing machine. In this operation both ends of the shell are sealed and closed simultaneously so as to provide a structure having a tubular body and closed ends.

The blank is so constructed and formed that the side wall sections of the cover part are connected to the upper ends of the side wall panels of the box part by easilyseverable necks of the blank material. The tear-01f section of the cover is also connected to the abutment flap hinged to the front wall panel of the box part by narrow easily severable neck of the blank material. These necks of the material may be easily broken by swinging the cover part of the assembled container rearwardly along the score line which permanently connects the top wall panel of the cover part to the rear wall panel of the box part, When the cover part, has been swung into full open position the merchandise may be readily inserted into the box part and the cover part swung into closed position with the side wall sections of the cover part telescoping over the upper ends of the side walls panels of the box part and the front flange section of the cover partsnugly telescoping over the front wall panel of the box part. When the cover part is in fully closed position the hinged abutment flap associated with the front wall panelof the box part will click into abutting engagement with the fixed abutment flap secured to thein'sideface of the front flange section of the cover part. When these abutment flaps are thus engaged the cover part cannot be swung into open position until predetermined upward force is exerted upon the front flange section of the cover part.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved blank of suitable material and which may be assembled automatically at a low cost on high speed box assembling machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hinged cover container formed from suitable material which may be assembled as a collapsed shell of substantially rectangular form and shipped in this condition to the merchandise manufacturer in a minimum cubicle space.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shell of suitable material from which a hinged cover container may be formed by merely sealing and closing the end walls of the tubular shell.

Another object of this invention i to provide a blank of suitable material from which a hinged cover container may be formed which is substantially rectangular in outline and results in little waste of the material, and which may be assembled entirely automatically by high speed box assembling machines at low cost.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide an improved hinged cover container which is neat and attractive in appearance, sturdy and strong carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outside face of'the blank from which the improved container is formed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank as it appears when glued and folded into flat collapsed shell form;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container shell as it appears when expanded into tubular form, showing the first stage of cover assembly;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container shell showing the bottom and top ends thereof at a further stage of assembly;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the expanded shell at a further advanced stage of assembly wherein the top end has been fully assembled and the bottom end partially assembled;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled container with the cover part still severably connected to the box part:

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the container showing the cover part released from the side, wall panels and front wallpanel of the box part;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the container with the cover part swung into full open position and merchandise inserted into the box part;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fully assembled and filled container showing the cover part telescoped over the upper .end of the box part;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the assembled container as it appears when viewed along line l0|0 of Fig. 9; and

-matic cutting and scoring machine.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the container showing the relationship of the parts during various open positions of the cover part.

Similar reference character refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification. v

The container forming blanks, each shaped as shown in Fig. 1, may be cut from large sheets or rolls of paperboard or other suitable material of the proper strength and texture, on an auto- The blanks need be finished and imprinted on one side thereof only since only one face of the blank forms the exterior surface of the assembled container,

Fig. 1 is intended to show the outside or finished face of the prepared blank and comprises essentially a box forming part a and a cover forming part b, hingedly connected along a transverse score line I2. The box forming part comprises a front wall panel I, a rear wall panel 2, and side wall panels 3 and 4. Rear wall panel 2 is connected along a longitudinal score line 6 to one side edge of the .side wall panel 3 while the other side edge of side Wall panel 3 is connected by a longitudinally extending score line 6 to the adjacent side edge of front wall panel I. The other side edge of front wall anel I is connected by a longitudinally extending score line B to the adjacent side edge of ide wall panel 4, while the securing flap 5 is hingedly connected to the other side edge of side wall panel 4 along a longitudinally extending score line 6". The score lines 6, 6, 6" and 6" may be arranged in substantially parallel relationship extending longitudinally of the blank.

The bottom of the box part is formed by a bottom flap l hinged to the lower end of the front wall anel I along a transversely extending score line 9, and a bottom flap 8 hinged to the lower end of the rear wall panel 2 along a transversely extending score line 9'. A bottom tab I0 is connected to the lower end of each of the side wall panels 3 and 4 by a transversely extending score line 9". Score lines 9, 9' and 9" are preferably slightly offset with respect to one another, as is well known in the art, to permit proper folding assembly of the container bottom.

The cover part b comprises a top wall forming panel ll connected to the upper end of the rear wall anel 2 of the box part by a transversely extending score line l2 and a front flange forming section i3 connected to the top'wall forming panel -II by a transversely extending score line l4. The score lines l2 and I4 are preferably in substantially parallel relationship and are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to or slightly greater than the transverse width of the side wall panels 3 and 4 of the box part. A side wall forming section I5 is connected to one end of the top wall forming panel I l by a longitudinally extending score line l6 which is substantially in H. A securing tab 20 is connected to the upper end of side wall forming section I5 along a transverse score line 2| which is substantially in alignment with the transverse score line l4. The securing tab 20 is separated from the front flange section l3 by a cut 22 substantially in alignment With score line 16.

A side wall section l, comparable to the side wall section I5, is connected to an extension 5' of the securing tab 5 along a longitudinally extending score line l6 which is substantially a continuation of the side edge forming score line 5" of the box part. Extension 5 is joined to the main securing flap 5 by a transversely extending score line l2 substantially in alignment with the transversely extending score line l2. A securing tab 20' is connected to the upper end of side wall section l5 by a transversely extending score line 2| substantially in alignment with the score line 2|. The side wall section I5" is separated from the upper end of side wall panel upper end of the front wall panel I by a trans-.

versely extending score line 26 which may be substantially in alignment with the cuts l1. The ends of the resilient abutment flaps25 are severed from side wall sections l5 and I5 respectively by longitudinally extending cuts 21 one of which is substantially in alignment with the score line 6 and the other substantially in alignment with the score line 6' of the box part.

The upper end of the resilient securing flap 25 is severely connected to a tear-off section 29 associated with the cover part b and which, if desired, may carry suitable directions or advertis-- ing. A series of aligned transversely extending cuts 28 separate the upper edge of the resilient the inside face of the hinged abutment flap 25 and tear-off section 29, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The rear wall panel 2 and the top wall panel 42 are then folded about score line 6" and score line I6 respectively so that the rear wall panel 2 overlies the inside face of side wall panel 3 and front wall panel I and the top wall panel H overlies the inside face of side wall section l5 and the hinged abutment flap 25 and tear-oil section 29. The free side edge of rear wall panel tainer, the merchandise manufacturer first e'x Fig. 3.

flap 25 from the tear-off section 29, but the spaced cuts 28 are separated by narrow severable' neck portions 28 which provide a temporary connection between the resilient abutment flap 25 and the tear-oif-section 29 during assembly I of the container. One end or the tear-off section 29 is severably connected to the side edge 'of side wall section 15 by a longitudinally extending severable line of perforations 30 which is substantially in alignment with the adjacent cut 21 and the other end of the tear-off section29isseverably connected to the adjacent side edge of the adjacent side wall section l5 by a longitudinally extending line of erforations 30 substantially in alignment with the adjacentcut 21. An abut ment flap 3| is severably connected to the upper edge of the tear-off section 29 by a transversely extending line of perforations 32 which is substantially in alignment with the transversely ex-.

tending score lines 2| and 2|. One end of the abutment flap 3! is separated from the adjacent side edge of securing tab 20 by a longitudinally extending cut 33 substantially in alignment with the perforated line 30 and the other end of the abutment flap 3| is separated from the adjacent side edge of the securing tab 20' by a longitudinally extending cut 33 substantially in alignment with the adjacent'perforated line 30.

Each blank as shown in Fig. 1 is assembled in flat collapsed condition as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which condition the assembled collapsed blanks may be stacked and then packaged and boxed for shipment to the merchandise manufacturer in a minimum of space. The blank may be glued and formed into such collapsed shell form on an automatic strip gluing and folding machine at a high production rate. The assembly steps comprise-the application of a strip of adhesive to the finished face of securing flap 5 and securing flap extension 5, following which the side wall panel I and the side wall section l5 are folded about score line 6' and the perforated line 30 to overlie the inside face of the front wall panel I and pands the collapsed tubular shell into the expanded form as illustrated in Fig. 3. The bottom and top ends of the shell may be assembled subf stantially simultaneously on an automatic: end.

sealing'machine-ata high production rate. In

performing these assembly operationa'adhesive g is applied to the outside face of the abutment flap A 3| which is then turned inwardly substantially at right angles to the front wall panel I as shown in I The cover securing tabs 20. and 20 and the bottom tabs-l0 are then simultaneously turned inwardly so that they respectively extend in substantial alignment; as illustrated in Fig. 4. When this has been accompl' hed adhesive is applied to the inside face of th -r'ont flange. section l3 of .the cover part and "flangei'se'ction i3 is then 35 folded into adhesive contact with the inturned tabs 20 and 20', as shown in Fig. 5. Substam tially simultaneously the bottom flap 8 is folded so as to overlie the bottom tabs III as shown in Fig. 5. Adhesive is then applied to the inside face of the bottom flap 1 which is then folded into adhesive contact over the outside face of the previously folded bottom flap 8, producing an assembled container substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6.

I When the assembly as shown in Fig. 6 has been completed, it will be noted that the upper ends of side wall panels 3 and 4 are joined to the adjacent lower edges of the side wall sections l5 and I5 respectively of the cover part only by narrow 'of the box material.

necks ll of the box material. It will also be noted that the tear-off section 29 of the cover part is severably connected to the upper edge of the hinged flap 25 only by the narrow necks 28' The necks l1 and 28 can,

, however, be readily severed by bending the cover part rearwardly about the transversely extending hinge forming score line [2, which operation breaks the narrow necks l1 and 28' as shown in Fig. 7 and separates the upper ends of the side wall panels 3 and 4 of the box part from the adjacent side wall sections l5 and I5 of the cover part respectively and further separates the upper edge of the hinged flap 25 from the lower edge of the tear-off section 29. The cover part can then be swung into the full open position illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the cover part has been swung to the full open position illustrated in Fig. 8, the merchandise plug or package P may be readily telescoped into the box part a, whichoperation can be performed by hand or by standard packaging equipment. The cover part b can then be swung into telescope position over the upper end of the box part, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. Since the scoring rule used forms a score having a width equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the box material, there is considerable flexibility in the fold point of thescore. Because of this flexibility the cover score lines I6 and I6 will spread sufficiently to permit the side wall sections l and I5 of the cover part to snugly telescope over the outside face of the adjacent side wall panels 3 and 4 of the box part. The side edge forming scores 6" and 6" which define the side edges of the rear wall panel 2 and the edge forming scores 6 and 6 which define the side edges of the front wall 'panel I will compress somewhat together so as to slightly narrow the transverse width of the rear wall panel Z'and front wall panel I and thus slightly reducethe distance between the side wall panels 3 and 4 of the box part so as to further permit side Wall sections 15 and I5 of thecover part to telescope thereover.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 8 and 10, it will be noted that the downturned resilient abutment fiap 25 is provided with a free abutment edge 28e which, when the cover is in closed position, will abut thefree edge 3le of the flap 3| which then constitutes a fixed abutment flap extending along the inside face of the front flange section l3 of the cover part. The tear-off section 29 will extend below the lower edge of the front flange section l3 of the cover part, as illustrated in Figs. 9, and 11, and may carry suitable directions or advertising imprinted thereon. The tear off section 29 can be readily removed by the consumer by exerting a slight pull thereon which will cause it to separate along the perforated line 32 from the fixed abutment flap 3|.

When access to the contents is desired, upward pressure is exerted on the lower free edge of the front flange section l3 of the cover part. Stresses are thus imposed upon the front wall panel I and the rear wall panel 2 of the box part, causing them to bow inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 11. The stresses thus engendered resist opening of the cover part and maintain the cover part in positive closed position until sufficient upward force is exerted on the front flange section I3 to overcome this resistance. A very slight downward force on the top wall panel ll of the cover part is all that is necessary to effect closing of the cover part. Resistance to opening continues until the resilient abutment flap 25 extends substantially at an obtuse angle to the front wall panel I. The hinged abutment flap 25 and the fixed abutment flap (H are so shaped and proportioned as to offer the desired resistance to the normal opening of the cover part, so that the cover part is retained in closed position and will not open during normal handling of the container. The cover part can be opened by applying force to the cover part sufficient to overcome the resistance offered by the resilient abutment flap 25 and the fixed abutment flap 3!.

The improved blank shown in Fig. 1 can be cut and formed at high speed on an automatic cutting and scoring machine with little waste of paperboard material. The individual blanks can be glued and assembled in collapsed shell form as shown in Fig. 2. in which condition they can be economically shipped and stored. The blank is so formed and proportioned as to permit high speed automatic assembly of the container by a few high speed assembly operations.

The improved container above described is strong and sturdy in construction and is attractive in appearance. The container is adapted for the packaging of numerous articles of merchandise, such as smoking tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and other articles of merchandise which have heretofore been packaged in hinged cover containers formed of metal or similar rigid material. This improved merchandise container canbe manufactured, packed and assembled at substantially less cost than hinged cover containers formed of rigid material and is equally as serviceable for many uses.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexedclaims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What, is claimed is:

1. In container construction, a paper-board shell having enclosing side wall panels and closed end panels, a hinge forming score line extending transversely across one of said side wall panels, and a severable line of weakness extending transversely across all other side wall panels dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part, one of said sidewall panels having a section providing a hinged abutment flap on the box part and another section severable from said first named section providing a fixed abutment flap on said cover part.

2. In container construction, a paper-boaqd shell having enclosing front, rear and side wall panels and end closure panels, a severable line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels and a severable line of weakness extending transversely across said front wall panel but offset from the lines of weakness in said side wall panels, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part, the front wall section between said lines of weakness defining an abutment flap hingedly connected to said box part, said cover part being adapted to telescope over the upper end of the box part and said abutment flap upon severing said lines of weakness, said cover part including a section providing an abutment edge positioned to interlock with said abutment flap upon telescoping of said cover part over the box part.

3. In container construction, a paper-board shell having enclosing front, rear and side wall panels and end closure panels, a first line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels and a second line of weakness extending transversely across said front wall panel but offset from said lines of weakness in said side wall panels, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part, said cover part being adapted to telescope over the upper end of the box part upon severing said lines of weakness. said front wall panel having a section between said lines of weakness providing a hinged abutment flap on the box part and a section severable from said first named section at said line of weakness in said front wall panel providing a fixed abutment flap on said cover part positioned to interlock with said hinged abutment fiap on the box part upon telescoping of the cover part over the box part.

4. In container construction, a paper-board shell having enclosing front, rear and side wall panels and end closure panels, a severable line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels and a severable line of weakness extending transversely across said front wall panel but offset from said first named lines of weakness, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into. a box part and a hinged cover part, said cover part being adapted to telescope over the upper end of the box part upon severing said lines of weakness, said front wall'panel having a removable section, a section providing a hinged abutment flap for thebox part on one side of said removable section, and a section providing a fixed abutment flap for said cover part on the other side of said removable section,

5. In container construction, a. paper-board shell having enclosing front, rear and side wall panels, and closure flaps extending inwardly'from each end of said front and rear wall panels pro:-

viding end closures, one of said flapsbeing severably connected to one end of said front wall panel providing a fixed abutment flap, line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels and front wall panel, a score line extending transversely across said rear wall panel and front wall panel, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part adapted to telescope over'the open end of the box part, said front wall panel having a section defined between said line of weakness and said score line in' the front wall panel presenting an abutment flap hinged to the box forming part of said front wall panel at said score line, the hinged abutment flap being adapted to cooperate with said fixed abutment flapon the cover part releasably to retain said cover part in telescoped position over said box Dart.

6. In container construction, a paper-board shell having enclosing front, rear and side wall panels, and closure flaps extending inwardly from one end of said front and rear wall-panels providing an end closure, one of said flaps being sev- "erably connected to the end of said front wall panel, a line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels and said front panel, a score line extending transversely across a said rear wall panel and front wall panel, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part with a section of said rear wall forming the top wall of the cover part and the adjacent closure flap forming a front flange for the cover part, said front wall panel presenting a hinged abutment flap when the line of weakness in said front wall panel has been severed adapted to engage the front flange of the cover part to resist opening movement thereof.

7. A paperboard blank for forming a hinged cover container comprising a box part having front, side and rear wall forming panels arranged rear wall panels, and a cover part having a top wall anel hinged to the upper end of the rear wall panel, of the box part, a front flange section hinged to said .top wall panel, sidewall sections severablyronnectedto the upper end of the side wall panels of the box part, securing tabs extending from said side wall sections, a front section extending between and severable from said side wall sections, said front section comprising an abutment flap portion] hinged to the upper edge of said front wall panel of the box part, a removable portion severably joined to said abutment fiapportion, and an abutment flap portion severably connected to said removable portion and adapted to be secured to the inside face of said front flange section when said' blank is assembled into container form;'

9. A paperboard blank for forming a hinged cover container comprising a box part having front, side and rear wall forming panels arranged in side by side relationship, bottom tabs extending from the lower end of said side wall panels,

bottom forming flaps hinged to the lower end of in side by side relationship, bottom forming flaps hinged to the lower end of each of said front tending from said side wall sections, and a front section extending between and severable from said side wall sections, said front section comprising an abutment flap portion hinged to the upper edge of said front wall panel of the box part and a removable portion severably joined to said abutment flap portion. 8. A paperboard blank for forming a hinged cover container, comprising a box part having front, side and rear wall forming panels arranged in side by side relationship, bottom forming flaps hinged to the lower end of each of said front and each of said front and rear wall panels, and a cover part having a top wall panel hinged to the upper end of the rear wall Panel of the box part, a front flange section hinged to said top wall panel, side wall sections severably connected to the upper end of the side wall panels of the box part, securing tabs extending from said side wall sections, and a front section extending between and severable from said side wall sections, said front section comprising an abutment flap portion hinged to the upper edge of said front wall panel of the box part, a removable portion severably Joined to said abutment flap portion, and an abutment flap portion severably connected to said removable portion and adapted to be secured to the inside face of said front flange section when said blank is assembled into container form.

10. In container construction, a shell formed of flexible sheet material having enclosing side wall panels and closed end panels, and a severable line of weakness extending transversely across, all except one of said side wall panels dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part, one of said end wall panels providing a flange for the cover part adapted to telescope over an enclosing side wall of said box part upon severance of said lines of weakness, said flange forming end wall panel having an abutment means on the inside face thereof, said box part presenting a hinged abutment flap when said lines of weakness have been severed, said abutment flap being operative to cooperate with said abutment means on the hinged cover part to releasably resist opening movement of the cover part when in closed position.

11. In container construction, a paperboard shell having enclosing side wall panels and closed end panels, and a severable line of weakness extending transversely across all except one of said side wall panels dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part, one of said side wall panels having a removable section, one of said end wall panels providing a flange for the cover part adapted to telescope over an enclosing side wall of the box part upon removal of said section and upon severance of said lines of weakness, said flange forming end wall panel having abutment means on the inside face thereof, said box part presenting a hinged abutment flap when said lines of weakness have been severed, said abutment flap being operative to cooperate with one of said closure flaps being severably connected to one end of said front wall panel, a line of weakness extending transversely across each of said side wall panels" and said front wall panel, a hinge defining score line extending transversely across said front wall panel providing an abutment flap when said lines of weakness have been severed, a hinge defining score lineextending transversely across said rear wall panel, said lines of weakness dividing said shell into a box part and a hinged cover part adapted after severance of the lines of weakness to telescope over the open end of thebox part, said cover part comprising a top wall formed from the upper end of said rear wall panel, a fixedfiange formed from one of said closure flaps and front abutment means formed from an adjacent closure flap, said front wall panel presenting a hinged abutment flap when the line of weakness in said front wall panel has been severed which is adapted to cooperate with said fixed abutment means to releasably retain the cover part in closed position.

DAVID W. MABEE. 

